Ice-making apparatus



Feb. 16 H526. LSZBJM A. H. HUTCHINSON ICE MAKING APPARATUS Filed April 19, 1924 "2 sneetsfshen 1 Feb 16 1926. v l 1,573,714

A. H. HUTcHlNsoN ici: MAKING AlPARATUs Filed April 19, 1924 2 sneetaLstwet 2 Fateiited Feb.; i6, 1926.Y

TED STATES PATENT oi-i'f-icnfv A ARTHUR H. HUTCHINSON, OF ATLANTA', GEORGIA.4

ICE-MAKING APPARATUS.

Application inea Aprii 19, 1924.v serial No. 707,687.

This invention relates to ice making ap-` paratus and more particularly to a cross bar for maintaining the cans employed for holding the water in ice making apparatus submerged as the water co/ntained in the can is frozen. i

An important object of the invention is to combine the construction of a liold-down bar oi this type with the can dog ordinarily employed for elevating theean from the brine tank and sup/porting the can during its transportation to the thawing apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to. providea device of this character which when used with -c'ans employing raw water in ice making likewise forms a support for `the air pipe ordinarily employed to agitate the water while freezing to prevent the formation of white ice.

A. further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a bar provided at each end thereof with a pairfof.- dogs7 one dog at each end being employed to engage the walls ot the compartment vin which the Aice can is disposed to prevent upward inovenient of the can, thel other ot' the dogs of each pair being adapted to engage iii the walls of the can duiing hoisting ot' the can so that the bar may be employed to elevate p 'plied about the upper surface of the body,

the can as well as hold the can subn'ierged.

A still further object of the invei'itioniisy to provide a device ot this character which is capable of great range of change and modification. 'in its construction so that it may be readily adapted to the construction of various types of ice cans and compartments in which the cans are to be disposed;

These and other objects I attain bythe construction shown lin the accompanying drawings,-ivheiein for the purpose of illus-' 4Figure l2.

of the bar being broken away to showftvh'e construction thereof;

Figure 2 is a Se-Ctn 0n the line Q y-Zof u 'l Figure 1; i Figure 3 is a sectional View through the dog showing a front elevation of theliold-f4 down pa/wl Figure modified pawl construction;

Figure 5 is a View 'showing the ymoiintingfof the air pipe in a type of bar construction .1

shown in Figures LLand/6;

Figure 6 is a section taken through pawls of this type of bar;

4 is a sectional viewshowing Figure 7 is a further modified construction in which two integrally;

pawlsl are constructed.. .f

Figure 8 is a further modificationof y type. .of pawl construction; y, Figure 9 is a side elevation showing av fur'- ther modification of the twopawl structure;Il",y

Figure 10 is a' Vertical sectional View ..1

showing a preferred manner of mounting;4

the air pipe in the bar Wheuthe bar. is'l of solid construction; ,f

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional vievvfA taken through this type of mounting immediately above the bar;

Figure 12 is a View showing manner ot' mounting the air pipe :in ycona preferred structioiis where the bar is of a channel type,v l

a portion of the bar being'broken away;

Figure 13 is a` vertical sectional view through the type of construction shown iny Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the' body of an ice c'aii, 11 the reinforcing band api and 12 the openings formed in opposite walls of thc can for the reception of the lugs y y of au ordinary 'can dog (not herein disl' partnients. It will be'obvious that the tank below a levelgenerally designated at 14,is-

filled with brine or other cooling medium in which the can'is submerged. It will be obvious that when the can is -filled with clear `water, the can vitself lbeing constructed of metal, this can will readily submerge inthe brine for the major portion of its length. In vthe usual construction the can is then forced downwardly and h.`d in position by a cross bar disposed across the top of the can.

In accordance with my invention I provide a cross bar 15 which may be ot' varied construction but which in all constructions iiicludes a body portion 16 ot a length equal to the inside width of the can havingl except in that 'torni' ot' the invention shown in Figure l at its upper edges extensions 17 adapted to rest upon the upper surface ot the Ian. Iii Figure .lil I have illustrated :i cross bar formed oi channel iron, the channel being 'upwardly directed, in Figure 'T a cross bar formed olE wood, and in Figure a cross bai' Vtorined ol'v two spaced angle irons secured together centrally by a plate 18. In all constructions oi" the cross bar this bar is provided intermediate its ends and prete rably centrally thereof with an opening pei'- mitting passage of an air tube 19 when such tubes are employed with the tank with which the bar is to be used. In the lirst two constructions mentioned the openings permitting the passage of the air tubes 19 are formed directly in the bars, while in the construction employing the two angle iron bars the connectingplate 18is formed with this opening. The means of mounting the air tribe in this opening may be of any desired character but in each instance the air tube will preferably be provided adjacent its upper end with a collar 2O limiting its downward movement through the opening.

Carried by each end of the cross bar is a lifting pawl 21, this pawl having a nose 22 adapted for engagement in the can dog openings 12 of the can 10. This dog is likewise capable ot a considerable range of change and modification. In Figure 8 I have illustrated a dog pivoted to the bar, as at 23, and having a weighted upper end 24. normallv maintaining' it out ot engagement with the can dog openings of the can. In this form ot dog construction the weighted upper end is provided with an opening 25 for the receptilon of the hooks 26 at the ends of direi-ging 'chains 2T ot hoisting apparatus by means of which the can is hoisted from the compartment when the contentsthereof f are frozen or by means of which the can is lowered into the compartment primarily. These hooks are two in number and are Aconnected by chains to av single ring so that the hooks tend to move toward one another when strain is placed thereon and by this tendency will draw the weighted upper ends of the dogs toward one another and force the noses 22 oli-thc pawls into the can dog openings.

f The bai' 15 is, ofcourse, always applied to the can in one lgeneral position, that is to say1 in a position where it bridges the can in alignment with'tlie can dog openings, and since these cans are rectangular in cross section the ends ofthe bar will always be opposed to corresponding` points of two opposed walls 14 of the compartment. In or on these walls immediately above the upper surface of the can when submerged the proper distance in the brine of the tank I provide a downwardly facing shoulder 28. In Figure 8 this shoulder is formed by notching the walls 14 and reinforcing the walls of the notch as indicated at 29. In Fig. 1 a shoulder is provided by securing to the wall a plate 30 the under surface ot which provides a shoulder 28, while in Figure 1 a combination of these tivo constructions is employed. Upon the weighted upper end ot the paw] I preferably provide a holddowii nose $31 which by the weight of this upper end is held beneath this shoulder to prevent upward movement oi. the bar and accordingly ot' the can. It will thus be seen that the dog 21, together with its weighted upper end 24, in reality comprises a pair ot dogs, one coactiiig with the notches or openings of the cans and the other coacting with the downwardly facing shoulders olf the compartment walls,

In Figure 7 a slight modiiication of this structure is resorted to. The'same general type of dog eoi'istruction is employed but to insure against accidental disengagement of either the can engaging nose or the shoulder engaging nose or" the combined pawl, a spring 32 is secured to the bar 15, this spring having a portion 38 extending into the path ot' the dog 21 and against which this dog engages before the nose 22 thereotl is withdrawn from the opening 12 and a second portion 34 aligning with the weighted upper end 2-1- and against which this upper end engages prior to its disengagement from beiieath the shoulder 28.

In Figure 9 is illustrated one form of dog wherein the weighted upper end 21e and the pawl 21 are toi-ined in two sections, the pawl 21 being biturcated at its upper end to produce a pair of arms 35 through which the pivot 23 is directed. The weighted upper end 2-1 is mounted upon this pivot intermediate these arms, as shown, and has projecting from the sides thereof a pin 36 extending into a notch 37 formed in the upper edge of the arm 35. The nose 22 of the pawl 21 engages in the can dog opening by gravity when tlie bar is placed in position and the weighted upper end 24, because of its unbalanced weight, engages its nose 31 beneath the shoulder 28 as the can is settled into position in the compartment. IWhen the hooks ot' the hoisting apparatus are engaged iii the openings of the weighted upper end to hoist the can, this weighted upper end is swung toward the (enter of the bar so tha-t the pin 3G engages against the inner walls of the notches 37 forcing the nose 22 of the pawl 21 firmly into the can dog-opening.W

iiefI lVhen the can is released and it is desired can sothat they limit inward movement of to remove the bar 15, the noses 22 may be the upper walls of the pawls as shown in released from these openings by forcing outdotted lines. vvardly upon the Weighted upper ends 24so i 'From the foregoing it is believed to be as to bring these pins against the outer end obvious that a device constructed in accordivalls of these notches, swinging the pawls ance with the foregoing will provide a coni 21 toward one another. l siderable saving in Vthe operation of ice In the form shown in Figure 4 "the plants, Instead of having to remove a hold* weighted upper end 24 of the pawl 21 does down bar and then attach .a can dog to the not bear the shoulder engaging nose 31, it can, the can dog is already applied to the being in thc form of a separate section piv can and all that is necessary for the oper oted upon the saine pivot 23 as the awl 2-1. ator-to -removc is the usual air fitting from 'The Weighted upper end 24,'in this instance, the air pipe 19 and attach the hoisting hooks acts to hold thel pawl 24 continually in enin the openings 25. Thus the holdfdown bar gageniciit, while-the nose 22 falls by gravity is combined with the can dog and pipe s v into position lbeneath the shoulder 28. In port as a unit and may be removed as suoi. this construction the piece upon which the It is further ordinarily necessary that before nose is formed is made of suflicient weight thawing out the ice from the can the air to slightly over-balance the pawl 21 so that tubes and brackets associated therewith be it is but loosely engaged in the openings 12 removed. This means aconsiderable loss of, and the pawl 2l'is provided with a shoulder time because the ice pullermmust wait a short 3S engaging the nose 22 when the pawl is length of time for the ice to thaw loose fully eugaged'in the openings and forcing from the can before he can dump it, while the pawl 21 from beneath the shoulder 28, with my apparatus the air drop tube bracket In this constructin, as in the construction is combined with the can dog and hold.-

previously described,'tlic nose 21 is removed down bar and 4is. employed in hoisting the from beneath the shoulder which it engages ice-so the ice can be conveyed to the thawing by the placing of strain upon the hoisting apparatus and the drop tube removed while apparatus engaged in the eye of the weightthe ice is being thawed. ed portion 24 vof the pawl 21. In each construction above described'some In Figure 1 I 112W@ disclosed 21 modifC- suitable means are provided for limiting the tion of the type of can dog at present in. outward movement of the pawls 21 so that use. In the structure of my invention these the noses thereof will not project Suiiicientl can dogs l(onsist of a tube 39 in the opposite to engage in the walls 13. In Figures 4, ends of which 'are disposed spring pressed and 9, this'iimitation is accomplished by the oolts 40 the springs 41 of which urge the actual engagement of the-pawl'with the wall ends of the bolts outwardly for engagement ofthe can. In Figure 8 this limitation is in th C2111 (10g receiving Openings 12 Of the maintained by the use of a lug 46 formed oncan. In accordance with my invention I the pawl` 21 and engaging against the botslot these bolts 40 adjacent the ends hereof, tom of the channel bar 47. In Figure y1 this as indicated at 42, and extend thro h the limitation is` accomplished by the engageivalls of the tube 39 a pin 43 the endsl of ment .of an operating linger piece k47 "secured which project at opposite sides of the tube to the plunger and operating through a slot 39 and form a mounting for the arms of the 48 formed in the tube 39, this finger piec'o forked lowereiid-44 of a pawl 45 bearing the engaging against the outer end wall ot' the shoulder engaging nose 31, this paivl 4 5 slot to provide this limitationf This finger having the hook receiving openingA 25 piece further serves as'a means of withfoi'med therein. The tube 39 is constructed drawal of the dog lug when the cross bar is centrally to support the air tube 19 in any to be removed. Y desired manner. Withthis type of. bar it Par-Tti'cular attention is directed to the fact willbe obvious that when the ,bar is placed that in each of the constructions above set in position the bolts 40 will spring outforth I have-provided a means for ve'rtiivardllyfto engage in the openings 12 thus cally supporting the air tube 19. In Figure revc'ntin ii'ith relation tol the can. The weight of the. throughdthe tube 39 to which. the'tube4 enf' pawls 45 will cause themv to fall outwardly tends, theflange of the tube being `preferto bring the noses 31 beneath the shoulders ably formed to engage with the tube 39 and 28 and lmaintain the can a inst upward prevent rotation of the air tube 19 and furmovement, the engagement o the hooks 26 ther to forni a housing for a compressible o1' the hoisting apparatus with the eyes of gasket member 50 of any suitable construe.'n these'pawls will, ofcourse, tend to withdraw-tion- In the form shown in Figure 5 the thcpawis in the usual manner. In this form guidance of 'the tube l? ,is, 'of course, acl the construction of the lower end of t.he"complis`hed`by the opening 51 of the gplate arms 44 of the-pawls 45 is preferably such 18, this opening being of size to snu v fit that they engage against the walls of the the pipel19. In the mounting shown in`Figupward movement of the bar- 1 a vertical bore 49 is formed directly i lil ures 10 and 11 the bar 16, which in this instance is `formed of wood, is provided with a bore 52 therethrough having at diametrically opposed points grooves 53 formed in the walls thereof. vThe upper end of the tube 19 is provided with a litting 54 having a diameter equal to that of the bore 52 and having secured at diametrically opposed points vertical shoulders 55 lor engagement in the grooves 53. This member includes a flange 5G for coaction with a compressible gasket 57. The engagement of the vertical shoulders or ribs in the slots will prevent rotation of the pipe and tenddo hold the same lirnrly in vertical position.

.ln the forni shown in Figures 12 and 13, which is the foi 1n preferably employed when a channeled cross bar is employed, l seat within the channel a piece of rubber pipe 5S through which a vertical bore is formed having a diameter snugly receiving the pipe 19, the base of the channel being formed with a similar opening indicated at 59. ln this construction the flange'ot the pipe is made of a diameter equal to the distance between adjacent laces of the channel bar so that sidewise movement of the pipe 19 is prcvented.

Attention is directed to the fact that in each of the constructions employed a compressible gasket or element is disposed between an enlarged portion ot the pipe and the bar through which the pipe extends for guidance. This gasket is important in that it permits a slight relative shifting of the can and bar after the cake of ice is frozen to thereby prevent the strain due to the shi'ft ing of the bar from ialling upon the drop pipe. In yevent such shifting movement takes place, the drop or air pipe 19 is permitted to move due to the compression o't this gasket. l

As is evidenced by the various constructions illustrated and described, the device is capable of a considerable range of change and moditication without materially departing Jfrom the spirit of my invention and I accordingly do not limit myself to such speciiic structure ashereinbetore set forth except as hereinafter claimed.

I claimzl 1. ln retrigerating apparatus, the combination with a water can adapted to be partiallysubmerged in cooling fluid in a walled compartment, of a -bar extending transversely ot the can having withdraw-'able means engaging the can to prevent relative movement of the can and bar, withdrawable means engaging the walls et the compartment to prevent upward movement ol the bar, the tirst named means being normally partially engaged with the can, and a connection between said means whereby withdrawal o'l the last named means to permit upward. movement of the bar fully seats the first named means so that the can is elevated with theJ bar.

2. The combination with a water can adapted to be partially submerged in brine in a walled compartment, of a bar extending transversely of the can and provided at each end thereot with a pair of pawls, one of said pawls being adapted for engagement in openings in the wall ot the can to prevent upward movement of the bar with relation to the can, the other of said pawls being adapted for engagement with thewall of the compartment to prevent upward movement ot the bar within the compartment, the last named pawl moving outwardly by gravit y to engage the walls of the con'ipartment.

3. The combination with a water can adapted to be partially submerged in brine in a walled compartment, ot' a bar extending transversely of the can and provided at each end thereof with a pair ot pawls, one ot said pawls being adapted for engagement in openings in the wall of the can to prevent upward movement of the bar with relation to the can. the other of said pawls being adapted lor engagenient with the wall of the compartment to prevent upward movement ot the bar within the compartment, the last named pawl moving outwardly by gravity to engage the walls of the compartment, the walls ot the con'ipartment beingformed to provide a downwardly facing shoulder beneath which the pawl engages.

4. rl"he combination with a water can adapted to be partially submerged in brine in a walled compartment, of a bar extending transversely of the can and provided at each end thereot1 with a pair ot pawls, one of said pawls being adapted tor engagement in olicnings in the wall of the can to prevent upward movement of the bar with relation to the can, the other o'lE said pawls being adapted tor engagement with the wall of the conu'iartment to prevent upward movement ot. the bar within the compartment. the last named pawl moving outwardly by gravity te engage the walls of the compartment, the last named pawls beingr swingable in the direction ot the longitudinal axis of the bar, a connection between the last named pawls and the lirst named pawls forcing the first named pawls into engagement in openings ot the an when the last named pawls are moved towardsI the center of the bar.

5l rl`he combination with a water can adapted to be partially submerged in brine in a walled compartment, of a bar extending ransvcrsely o'f thel can and provided at each end thereof with a pair of pawls, one of said pawls being adapted for engagement in openings in the wall of the can to prevent upward movement of the bar with relation to thel can, the other of said pawls being adapted for engagement with the wall of the compartment to preventupward' movement Lamme of the bar within the compartment, the last named pawl moving -outwardly by gravity.

to engage the walls of the compartment, the

last named pawls being Swingabie in the dnamed pawls into engagement in openings of the can 'when the lastnamedpawls are moved towards the center of the bar and withdrawing thefirst named pawls from en gagement. in the openings of the can when moved toward the ends of the bar.

6. n refrigerating apparatus, the combination with a'water can adapted to be pertially submerged in cooling finiti in a walied compartment., of a bar extendiner transversely of the can having withdrawable means engaging the can to prevent relative movement of the can andbar, withdrawable means engaging the walis of the compartmentto prevent upward movement of the bar, a drop pipe supported bythe bar and having an enlargement above the bar, and a compressible element between lthe drop pipe and bar.

7. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination with a water een adapted to be. partially submerged in cooling fluid in a walled compartment, of a bar eXteIioli'.Ii,f 1;` transversely of the can forming a` support for a drop pipe for the can and a means whereby the can may be withdrawn from the tank compartment, means interposed between the bar and a portion ofthe drop pipe limiting movement of the drop pipe through the bar by gravity but permitting further movement of the drop pipe through the bar when strainis placed vupon the bar. 8. n refrigerating apparatus, the combination with a water can adapted to' be partially submerged in cooling niri in a walled compartment', of a bar extending transversely of the can, having withdrawable means for engaging the can to prevent reiative movement of the can and bar, and withdrawablemeans for engaging the welis of the compartment to prevent npwar. movement of the bar, the last named means being withdrawn from engagement upon movement thereof toward a common center anti hoisting means including elements enga-feeble with said withdrawabie means and withdrawing the same upon application oi strain thereto.

9. n retrigerating apparatus, the eombi nation with a water een atiapteti to be partially submerged in cooling Huid in a waile compartment, of a bar extending trans-A versely of the can having withdrawable means engaging the can to prevent relative movement or" the can and bar. withdrewabie means engaging; the weils of the compartment to prevent upward movement of the bar. the first namedI means being normaiiy partially engaged with the can, anti a connection between said means whereby withdrawal of the' iast named means to permit upwaldmovement of the bar fully' seats the lirSt named means so that. theean is elevated with the bei', the last nameci means being withdrawn from engagement upon move ment thereof toward a common center and hoisting means inoiudine elements engage sible with said withdrawable means and withdrawing the same upon application of strain thereto.

, In testimony wheieoft` hereunto ethz my l signature.

ARTHUR H. HUTCHNSGN. 

